How do you contribute to SFL in your new job role?

My role as a Student Programs Associate is to support and manage SFL’s student programs. I’m responsible for providing resources and support to SFL’s local program managers, helping them stay connected to our DC office. I’m not assigned to any specific region, so I’ll also help connect SFL’s programs to one another and assure that they’re all on the same page.

How did you first get interested in liberty?

One of my history professors assigned readings by Paul Krugman and compared his ideas to Milton Friedman’s. He didn’t assign any reading by Friedman though, so I became curious and did some research on my own. I eventually discovered the Free to Choose series on YouTube and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Who do you think is the most underrated libertarian thinker?

Laozi (or Lao-Tzu) is best known as a leading Daoist figure and author of the Dao De Ching. Some libertarians probably aren’t familiar with Laozi, but he provides one of the best accounts of spontaneous order that I’ve encountered. His ideas about individualism, government, and wu-wei (best translated as non-action) are also intriguing. While Laozi is certainly a religious figure, his political philosophy and ideas on government should be more widely discussed within libertarian circles.

On a non-liberty note, what do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I like to spend time outdoors, especially hiking, camping, and gardening. I’m also a big classic movies fan and I’ll watch pretty much any sport, although NFL football is my favorite. I look forward to getting to know the DC area and picking up some city-friendly hobbies.